Gallery of Pictures

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Ohio River Boat Launch located at North 6th and Burnett Streets was held October 22, 2014. Mayor Gayle Kaler, Commissioner Sandra Wilson, Commissioner Allan Rhodes, Commissioner Carol Gault, City Manager Jeff Pederson, Parks Services Director Mark Thompson, and City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy spoke at the event. The Paducah Tilghman JROTC Color Guard led off the ceremony. The Boat Launch provides 85 parking stalls, a large boat ramp, and a courtesy dock.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the third section of the Greenway Trail was held October 22, 2014. The ceremony was held at the east side of the underpass at North 8th Street/U.S. 45. Mayor Gayle Kaler, Commissioner Sandra Wilson, Commissioner Allan Rhodes, Commissioner Carol Gault, City Manager Jeff Pederson, Parks Services Director Mark Thompson, and City Engineer-Public Works Director Rick Murphy spoke at the event. BikeWorld provided bicycles for folks to ride. PATS provided a trolley to the event.

The Paducah School of Art & Design and the Paducah Civic Beautification Board teamed up to sponsor a Dogwood Art & Photography Contest, celebrating Paducah’s 50th Dogwood Trail. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in both categories are on exhibit as part of the Mayor’s Art Club at City Hall, April 1 – June 27, 2014. The art and photography entries were coordinated and judged by the Paducah School of Art & Design. Judging was held on March 28. Awards will be presented to the winners during the April 22, 2014 City Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. The Civic Beautification Board encourages photographers to take plenty of photos this blooming season in preparation for next year's contest.

These are images from the 2013 Veterans Day Opening Ceremony at the gazebo at 2nd and Broadway and images from the Parade. During the opening ceremony, Dr. Bradford Mutchler was named the 2013 Distinguished Veteran, Sandy Hart received the first annual Patriot Award, and the Veterans Day Essay Contest winners showed their pictures or read their essays. The Singations from Concord Elementary sang the National Anthem.

Members of Independence Bank, City officials, and the community dedicated Independence Park located at the corner of Lone Oak Road and Alben Barkley Drive on October 30, 2013. The site was originally intended for the bank's two-story signature location which has now been built just past the park on Broadway. After community members expressed concerns about the property being used for commercial purposes, the bank decided to donate the land to the City and build a park for the community to enjoy.

Mayor Gayle Kaler in partnership with the Challenger Learning Center at West Kentucky Community & Technical College held a Mayor’s Book Club event for kids who love outer space and who love reading on October 28, 2013 at the Challenger Learning Center. The students were introduced to a series of books, Moonbase Crisis, co-written by Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, one of the founding members of the Challenger Center and the widow of the commander of the space shuttle Challenger. The Center worked with schools to invite 4th through 6th grade students across Paducah and McCracken County. Mayor Kaler read an excerpt of the book and led a discussion about the importance of science, math, engineering, technology, and reading. Each student received a copy of the book. The students also viewed the night sky using a telescope, toured the Challenger Learning Center, and enjoyed a space-age treat from Dippin’ Dots.

The Paducah Fire Prevention Division hosted the 2nd Annual Conference for Electrical, Building, and Fire Suppression Professionals on October 25, 2013. City Manager Jeff Pederson provided opening comments and applauded the work of the Paducah Fire Department which in 2012 was given oversight of the former City of Paducah Inspection Department. That department is now the Fire Prevention Division. Attendees could attend an electrical class, a building code class, or a course on fire suppression and extrication techniques for hybrid vehicles. More than 200 people from across the region attended the conference held at the Julian Carroll Convention Center and the Paducah Expo Center.

A pinning ceremony was held October 4, 2013 for newly appointed Police Chief Brandon Barnhill. City Manager Jeff Pederson, Mayor Gayle Kaler, and Murray Police Chief Jeff Liles spoke at the ceremony. Chief Barnhill's family, friends, and co-workers were in attendance to watch as his wife pinned the official chief pin to his uniform. Chief Barnhill was appointed as Paducah Police Chief on September 17, 2013. He started his career with the PPD in 1998.

A retirement ceremony was held for Police Chief James Berry on August 9, 2013. The Paducah Ambassadors welcomed the Chief in front of City Hall. On August 16, Chief Berry began his new position of Director of University Safety and Security Affairs at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. Chief Berry served as Paducah’s Police Chief from July 20, 2009 through August 9, 2013.

About 50 kids plus staff visited City Hall on July 19, 2013 as part of the McNabb 21st Century Club. They read with Mayor Kaler the P is for Paducah book, learned about City government, and participated in a mock City Commmission meeting. They had fun voting on the dog park, the Noble Park Pool, and the pooper scooper law.

On July 1, 2013, Mayor Gayle Kaler announced the 23 members of the Paducah Anti-Bullying Task Force at a celebration at the Park Avenue location of the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club. For more information, visit Mayor's Anti-Bullying Task Force Initiative.

On April 17, 2013, Mayor Gayle Kaler held the inaugural event for the Mayor's Book Club. Mayor Kaler asked elementary schools within the Paducah city limits to select five students, one from each grade first through fifth, to come to City Hall. The participating schools were Clark Elementary, Community Christian Academy, McNabb Elementary, Morgan Elementary, and St. Mary Elementary. At the event, each student was presented with their own copy of P is for Paducah. The students and Mayor Kaler also read the book together.

On April 11, 2013, the Paducah Human Rights Commission held its 16th Annual Fair Housing Luncheon at Walker Hall Events Center. Mayor Gayle Kaler and Judge-Executive Van Newberry read the Fair Housing Proclamation. Guest speakers were Mr. Mark Link, Sr. Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for Paducah Bank, and City of Paducah Planning Director Steve Ervin. The 2013 Fair Housing Award was presented to Ervin and to Community Development Planner Charlie Doherty for the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Doherty also provide vocal entertainment for the attendees. Chamber of Commerce President Elaine Spalding, who is leaving Paducah to take a position in another state, was recognized for her dedication to the community.

A ceremony and groundbreaking in which Governor Steve Beshear attended was held March 21, 2013 for the new TeleTech customer care (call) center. TeleTech will be bringing 450 jobs to Paducah. The company will utilize the Commerce Center building at 401 Kentucky Avenue and new facilty that will be constructed in Paducah Commerce Park.

In January 2013, Mayor Gayle Kaler launched the Mayor’s Art Club. Mayor Kaler asked for artists who live in McCracken County to submit photos of their work. A committee reviewed the 27 entries and narrowed the list to eight artists. All forms of art were accepted and the eight selected artists showcase a diversity of disciplines ranging from sculptors and ceramists to photographers and painters. Each quarter of the calendar year, two of the eight artists will have the opportunity to display their artwork at City Hall in either the Mayor's office or reception area. An opening reception was held February 14, 2013. More information can be found at Mayor's Art Club.

A reception and ceremonial swearing-in of the City of Paducah Board of Commissioners was held January 8, 2013 at City Hall. Mayor Gayle Kaler and Commissioners Richard Abraham, Carol Gault, Allan Rhodes, and Sandra Wilson were sworn in by Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham. The ceremony includes prayers for the City of Paducah, McCracken County, State of Kentucky, and the nation. The ceremony ended with a song of praise from Harrison Street Baptist Church. Ceremonial Swearing-In Video >>

The Paducah Park Services Department and the Veterans Day Planning Committee held the 2012 Veterans Day Parade Opening Ceremony and Parade on Monday, November 12. The opening ceremony included the presentation of the 2012 Distinguished Veteran, Leon Dodge, who served as the parade’s grand marshal. The winners of the Veterans Day Essay contest were introduced, and the first place winners read their essays for the crowd. The parade began at 11 a.m. at 2nd and Broadway and traveled along Broadway to 17th Street. 2012 Veterans Day Parade Video >>

The Fire Prevention Division organized the first ever Electrical Code Workshop held November 9, 2012 at the Julian Carroll Convention Center. More than 100 people from across the region attended to receive eight contact hours of continuing education for the State of Kentucky and learn about the structure and organization of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and how to properly apply it in real world settings. The workshop was taught by Bill McGovern, the Electrical Inspection Services Supervisor for the City of Plano, Texas. The Fire Prevention Division hopes to start providing annual workshops for the region.

On November 2, 2012, a ceremony was held to kick off the Riverfront Redevelopment Project. Instead of a groundbreaking ceremony, the City held an infill ceremony with the tossing of colored sand to represent the building of a new land mass. The first step of the project is to build in 2013 an approximate 3-acre land mass into the Ohio River just downstream of the existing Schultz Park. The project had to be moved downstream due to a high concentration of mussels. The mussels in the new project area have been relocated. The land mass will need to settle for about a year before walkways and other amenities can be built. The project also includes the construction of a marina services building, 400 feet of transient dock, and a new boat launch facility (6th and Burnett Streets). A marina will be a future project, more than likely a public-private partnership. Speakers at the ceremony include Mayor Bill Paxton, Parks Services Director Mark Thompson, PRDA Board Member Joe Framptom, and Engineering-Public Works Director Rick Murphy. Riverfront Redevelopment Project Infill Ceremony Video >>

To honor former Mayor Albert Jones who served as mayor from 1996 until 2000, on August 14, 2012 the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved renaming Henry Clay Park as Albert Jones Park. The park is located at the former Henry Clay Elementary School site just northeast of Brooks Stadium. The park, located between Joe Bryan Drive, Guthrie Avenue, B Street, and South 21st Street, is approximately six acres with a walking path. Jones is a Korean War veteran who has served as Commonwealth attorney, U.S. attorney, and a state representative.

Scholar House of Paducah is a project of Paducah Housing Services through the Housing Authority of Paducah. Scholar House is an apartment complex for parents pursuing an education with childcare and skills classes on site. The facility is next to the WKCTC campus. The City purchased the property for the project. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held October 9, 2012.Scholar House Ribbon Cutting Video >>

The River Discovery Center held the first ever Dragon Boat Festival on September 22, 2012 on Paducah’s riverfront. The festival involved 26 local teams racing in heats by paddling 40-foot long boats. Proceeds from the team entry fees and sponsorships benefited the educational programs at the River Discovery Center. The event brought an estimated 2500-3000 people to the riverfront. Next year, the museum hopes to have 36 teams. The 2013 Dragon Boat Festival is set for September 21.

The 2012 Labor Day Parade conducted by the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee was held September 3. The parade followed Broadway starting at 14th Street and ending at 2nd Street after making a turn onto 2nd Street toward Jefferson. Each year, the Labor Day Parade averages 60-70 entries. Before the parade in the Paducah Power parking lot (1500 Broadway), the Labor Day Committee presented a trophy and commemorative medals to members of the McCracken County Mustang Marching Band. After the parade in the downtown parking lot, attendees enjoyed political speaking, food and merchant vendors, inflatables for the kids, and four bands.

In 2010, the public fundraising began for a dog park at Stuart located off Park Avenue just west of Noble Park. The City challenged the public to raise $20,000 toward the Paducah Dog Park and then the City would match that amount. Parks Services Director Mark Thompson says 85 different donors contributed to the park. An official opening ceremony was held August 15, 2012. The dog park is on an approximately 7-acre tract of land at the eastern end of Stuart Nelson Park. The park has two large fenced areas for large dogs and small dogs in addition to parking, water, and shelters.

The Paducah Police Department hosted a minority recruitment community forum on June 14, 2102 at the Robert Cherry Civic Center. The police department in addition to the City's human resources staff sought input from the community in exploring new ways to successfully recruit minority applicants for police officer positions.

A memorial garden that was gravely damaged by the 2009 ice storm is getting a new location and new plantings. The groundbreaking for the Children’s Memorial Garden was Thursday, June 7, 2012 on the east side of Noble Park next to the tennis courts. The garden previously was next to the amphitheater. The Civic Beautification Board created the Children’s Memorial in 1996 by planting 19 white flowering dogwoods in memory of the 19 children killed in the Oklahoma City bombings. Over the years and especially after the ice storm, 18 of the dogwoods died. The new memorial will have 19 different types of dogwoods that will bloom from early spring through May. Each tree variety will be labeled.

The American Queen made the first of its six scheduled 2012 stops in Paducah on Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The American Queen was acquired and refurbished by the Memphis-based Great American Steamboat Company. The American Queen was christened in Memphis, Tennessee on April 27. The steamboat is 418 feet long and can accommodate 436 guests.

The City of Paducah, along with Rehab Associates, Lourdes Hospital, and Family Service Society, organized the second annual running event which involves a half marathon (13.1 miles) for individuals and for two-person and four-person relay teams. The co-ed event was held May 12, 2012 at 6:30 a.m. with the start and finish along the floodwall near Schultz Park. The race route took runners along Jefferson Street, through several neighborhoods in Paducah’s West End, through Stuart Nelson Park, the Greenway Trail, and Bob Noble Park, around Lang Park in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood, beside galleries in Lower Town, and along Madison Street to the finish. More than 700 runners from 12 states participated. All proceeds were provided to Family Service Society, Inc. which provides immediate emergency relief to residents of Paducah and McCracken County.

On November 30, 2011, the Housing Authority of Paducah hosted a ribbon cutting and open house for the new H.C. Mathis Apartment Community. The new 28 apartments are for seniors and the disabled. The land was provided by the City of Paducah in a "land swap" between the Housing Authority and the City. News Release >>

On October 14, 2011, McCracken County hosted a ribbon cutting celebration for the County's new Emergency Operations Center located next to the County Road Department on County Park Road. Photos include members of the McCracken County Fiscal Court.

The annual Touch a Truck event organized by the Paducah Parks Services Department was held September 15, 2011 in the Farmer's Market parking lot downtown. Hundreds of children came out to see and touch more than two dozen large vehicles including a fire truck, trolley, police car, garbage truck, ambulance, helicopter, and race car.

On September 11, 2011, the City of Paducah held Bikes on Broadway, Red, White, & Blue. It was a special Bikes on Broadway with American flags and banners for people to sign to pay tribute to emergency responders and to remember those lost in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The banners were sent to emergency responders in New York. During Bikes on Broadway, a section of Broadway is closed to vehicular traffic for three hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Friday morning September 9, 2011, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Paducah organized a remembrance ceremony at the Paducah riverfront to honor individuals who lost their lives in the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks. The ceremony included local fire and police personnel including the Paducah Police Department Color Guard. It was a chance for the Coast Guard, Paducah Police Department, and Paducah Fire Department to come together to remember those lost in the September 11 attacks and to strengthen the existing bonds between their agencies. Rev. Kempton Baldridge of the Seamen's Church Institute offered a prayer.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held June 13, 2011 for the expansion of the Community Garden located at 14th and Madison Streets. Boy Scout Matthew Rea coordinated the expansion project for his Eagle project. The garden now has 40 plots for the public to rent.

With the Julian Carroll Convention Center and the Expo Center located on the Ohio River side of the floodwall and with a forecast of the Ohio River cresting above the level of the 1997 flood, the City of Paducah began preparations to protect the facilities. A levee was built using the demolition debris from the former Executive Inn hotel. Sand was unloaded by the truck load next to the levee. Bastiens (four foot tall fabric bag in a wire mesh container) were filled with the sand and placed on top of the levee. On the river side of the Convention Center, a steel plate was installed to block the water. Inside the Convention Center along the back wall, which is a service corridor, crews placed sandbags. The purpose of the sandbags is to create a trough so that if any water seeps into the Convention Center it can be pumped out before it creeps into the carpeted and public areas of the building. This work began Sunday evening, April 24 and was completed Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2011.

Beginning Sunday evening, April 24, 2011, City of Paducah crews started preparing to install the floodgates. At that time, the forecast indicated that the Ohio River would crest at 55 feet on May 3. On Monday, April 25, 2011, 22 of the City's 47 floodgates were installed. By the end of the day on April 26, 37 gates had been installed. With the revision of the forecast for the Ohio River showing a crest at 53 feet on May 3. The installation of the final 10 floodgates are not necessary. Each gate is quite labor intensive. Crews from various departments including the Parks Service Department and Fire Department are trained to install the floodgates. Temporary workers monitor the pumps at the pump stations on a 24 hour basis.

Photos in this gallery were taken on February 6, 2011. The images show the progression of the demolition of the Executive Inn. Photos were taken from Schultz Park, the back of Paducah Care & Rehabilitation Center, and the front of the Julian Carroll Convention Center.

On December 16, City of Paducah employees had the opportunity to come together at City Hall for an employee dinner. The menu included ham, turkey, dressing, corn, green beans, rolls, and dessert. It's an annual event to bring the 330 employees together. Students from Community Christian Academy sang Christmas songs and entertained the crowd with their wonderful voices.

On November 9, 2010, a ceremonial event was held to mark the final chapter for the Executive Inn hotel in downtown Paducah. Exterior demolition began on that day with the ceremonial cutting of a beam and the lowering of the ten foot tall "E" sign from the top of the building. The demolition process will be completed in March 2011. --News Release--

On October 25, 2010, Jeff Pederson signed his contract to be Paducah's next city manager. His officially starting day is December 7. Prior to becoming Paducah's City Manager, Pederson was the City Administrator of Grand Island, Nebraska

On September 14, 2010 Kentucky State Treasurer, Todd Hollenbach, visited City Hall in Paducah for the Treasure Finders event. Volunteers, especially the Paducah Ambassadors, scanned lists of thousands of names of McCracken County residents who have unclaimed property. The volunteers made calls to the people they recognized on the list. At the time of the event, McCracken County residents had about $4.3 million in unclaimed property. Visit KY Treasury and look at the McCracken County list to see if your name is on there.

In March 2010, the first-ever City of Paducah Community Garden opened for renters at North 14th Street and Madison. The fenced area has water and 20 plots for rent for $20 per plot. Even though the summer was hot and dry, some beautiful flowers and vegetables were still flourishing when these pictures were taken in late August.

The liquidation of the Executive Inn began at 10:00 a.m. on August 19, 2010. The liquidation will last 45 days. The demolition process will begin immediately after the liquidation. These are photos from the first couple of hours of the liquidation. For details about the liquidation, click News Release.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held August 10, 2010 for the Housing Authority's H.C. Mathis Housing Development for Senior Citizens. The 30 units will be built on H.C. Mathis Drive across from the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Citizens Center.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 10, 2010 for the Noble Park Parking Lot Project. This project involves correcting drainage problems and rebuilding the parking lot next to the Noble Park poolhouse. Also the road in front of the amphitheater will be moved away from the amphitheater to create a wider safety barrier between the vehicles and the people enjoying amphitheater entertainment. This is nearly a half million dollar project funded by the Investment Fund. During the groundbreaking Dortha Page received a Duchess of Paducah award for her years of working to make Noble Park more beautiful.

On May 7, 2010 a dedication ceremony was held at the Paducah Water Treatment Plant on North 8th Street. The plant is now named the W.J. Brockenborough Water Plant in honor of Jim Brockenborough who served on the Commissioners of Waterworks board for nearly 30 years. He was chair of the board from 1987 to 2009. Visit Paducah Water for more information about the plant.

The Ohio River Valley and points to the south starting receiving heavy rain and thunderstorms on April 30, 2010. The region saw storms and rain off and on for three days. The National Weather Service in Paducah reported a storm total of 3.63 inches; however, many areas to the south including Nashville, Tennessee received a foot or more of rain causing the rivers to rise. These pictures were taken of the Paducah riverfront on May 5, 2010 when the Ohio River was nearing its crest. It crested at 44.2 feet on May 6 (flood stage is 39.0 feet).

On April 14, 2010 the City held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 38,000 square foot dome pavilion located downtown near the Julian Carroll Convention Center. The first use of the facility is to house vendors for the 2010 AQS Quilt Show, April 21-24. At the ribbon cutting, contractors Arizon Structures and M.P. Lawson were recognized in addition to Architect, Paul King of Peck, Flannery, Gream, Warren, Inc.

On March 23, 2010 the public had a chance to get an up close look at the Paducah Fire Department's new ladder truck. It has a 105 foot ladder and will be stationed at Station 3 on Friedman Lane. --News Release--

On March 3, 2010 the 2010 Census Community Rally and Portrait of America Road Tour was held at the McCracken County Library. The event was organized by the McCracken County Complete Count Committee. Events including the reading of a census proclamation, singing, census goodie bag giveaways, cheers, and poster contest winners. Click 2010 Census for more information.

On December 16, City of Paducah employees enjoyed some time together eating a catered Christmas dinner in the atrium of City Hall. A big thank you goes out to the Paducah Ambassadors who decorated the tables and served the food. The McNabb Honors Choir shared their beautiful voices with the employees.

Reception held November 30, 2009 in atrium of City Hall. Assistant Chief Harvey has served the City of Paducah for 32 years starting as a fire fighter and working his way up to the position of Assistant Fire Chief. He has been Assistant Chief for nearly 11 years.

In 2009 Commissioners started a program to walk through neighborhoods visiting with constituents. Click Neighborhood Walks for more information. Photos are from walks on May 12, July 11, and October 18, 2009.

Pictures are from the check presentation ceremony on September 24, 2009 held in the lobby at Western Baptist Hospital. The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety presented the Paducah Police Department with a $25,000 check. Click News Release for details.

One of the most popular events organized by the Parks Services Department is Touch a Truck. Kids have the opportunity to see, touch, and get into the driver's seat of many types of vehicles. Pictures are from the September 10, 2009 event.

On July 23, 2009, Ronald McDonald House Charities presented the Parks Services Department with a $2586 grant to be used to offer swimming lessons to children 6-12 years old. Click News Release for details.